Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-Buraimi Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-Buraimi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,303 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,596 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 15% less than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Al-Buraimi 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$5.28 OMR 2.03

-62.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.64 OMR 9.87

-28.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.58 OMR 2.92

-1.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.76 OMR 1.83

-57.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-15.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.34 OMR 0.13

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$12.37 OMR 4.76

-82.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-69.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.99 OMR 0.76

-17.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.23 OMR 0.47

27.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.65 OMR 0.63

-27.88%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.40 OMR 0.92

-19.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.81 OMR 1.46

324.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.13 OMR 1.97

-41.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.77 OMR 3.38

24.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.51 OMR 0.97

7.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-32.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-8.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.13 OMR 0.44

41.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.02 OMR 0.39

35.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.97 OMR 0.37

23.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.05 OMR 0.40

-36.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.56 OMR 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.44 OMR 2.48

-27.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$15.73 OMR 6.05

12.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$4.42 OMR 1.70

-57.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$7.79 OMR 3.00

-57.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.61 OMR 1.01

-47.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.53 OMR 0.21

152.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.34 OMR 2.06

53.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.59 OMR 0.23

106.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$23.3K OMR 8,966

-8.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$21.5K OMR 8,288

4.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,376

$105 OMR 40.58

-32.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿472

$40.41 OMR 15.55

-65.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$69.4 OMR 26.71

-74.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$10.24 OMR 3.94

-42.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$196 OMR 75.3

57.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,765 OMR 3,758

52.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$50.4 OMR 19.41

10.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$40.07 OMR 15.42

-34.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$79.8 OMR 30.70

4.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$89.1 OMR 34.29

-20.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$208 OMR 79.9

15.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$3,590 OMR 1,382

-83.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

-2.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 520% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $26.00 in Al-Buraimi. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $233, with Al-Buraimi cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 520% lower in Al-Buraimi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Al-Buraimi pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Al-Buraimi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al-Buraimi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Al-Buraimi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.